Professor Fui returns as Vice Chancellor

Prof. Fui Asofou So’o has been re-appointed as the Vice Chancellor and President of the National University of Samoa (N.U.S.).

This means Prof. Fui will take the helm at N.U.S. for another three years following the official endorsement by Cabinet.

This will be his fourth term as Vice Chancellor and President.

The Vice Chancellor of the National University of Samoa will take one last run at the post as he claims plans to retire after 2021.

Since starting in 2009, Prof. Fui has implemented various changes to N.U.S. including changing of the University from the school system to a Faculty system.

This was in part of a move to create a more inclusive education plan for N.U.S. by merging it with the then Samoa Polytechnic school system.

Another milestone in the past nine years for Prof. Fui had been the implementation of a unified salary scale for the University.

At the time, Prof Fui said that there had been a flurry of noises from the backdrop regarding the many changes the University had undergone, but eventually later died down.

“I know there was a lot of disagreement at the time about where the University was headed, but there was a clear picture in my head about how and where exactly I wanted it to go,” he said.

Nine years later, N.U.S. continues to thrive with Prof Fui exemplifying the success of the university staff with academic publications and research, as well as the continued improvement in methods and their performances.

For the next three years in his term, Prof. Fui added that the focus will be exactly on what he had honed within his time while at the helm.

“Basically I’m focused on consolidating the structure and perfecting the way N.U.S. works. The processes and the quality that goes with the structure,” he added.

On a much closer scope, he said that T.V.E.T courses are a must for the University to push.

“Most of us think TVET and we think practicality and hands on, but not knowing that there is more to these courses and for N.U.S. to look into,” he said.

The question that hangs at the balance is where he will be after this term as the Vice Chancellor.

“I think it may well be time for some new blood in this seat. I think it will be time for me to move on from where I am and take up a position on another level, meanwhile some new blood is very much welcomed here at the leadership role at N.U.S,” he added.